Derby Talk

Derby Talk is a forum for Pinewood Derby, Awana Grand Prix, Kub Kar Rally, Shape N Race Derby, Space Derby, Raingutter Regatta and other similar races where a child and an adult work together to create a race vehicle and a lot of fun and memories

BigDozer66 wrote:Would Torx bolts be better than Allen's are for these tracks?

Maybe, but you would have to get quite a few of them. Though you wouldn't have to replace all of them, just the ones to join the sections. I haven't seen Torx screwdrivers, so you may have to use a cordless drill to setup and teardown if you do that (or a screwdriver that you can use different bits on).

Adding to cones for the race area, we made barrier poles out of PVC pipes. The poles are 8ft-10ft long. We added an end cap to each end that has a hole drilled through it so a loop of Paracord could be run through. The loops go over the top of the traffic cones. A large knot on the inside of the caps keeps the cord from pulling out. I never glued the caps on but you can if needed. Mine have worked fine for the last 4 years with just friction.

Last year we added yellow and black duct tape to the poles to make them look like caution tape. This isn't the best picture, but I think it shows what I'm talking about.

Flat rugs no one can trip on to cover exposed wiring.
We are not allowed to use tape on our gym floors. Anything set on the floor, including the track, must have something under it, even if it is just a piece of cardboard.
I like the idea of money and Forstner bits for added weight. A piece of Indoor/Outdoor double face tape should hold it. Quick Fix. Make a sample board so scouts can see what you're doing.
Here's a sample.
#8 x 3/4" flat head Phillips head screws - 1.48 grams
Dime - 2.27 grams
Penny - New 2.51 grams
Penny - 1981 3.16 grams
Nickel - 5.07 grams
Quarter - 1999 Delaware 5.69 grams
3/8" x 5" lead rod (Hodges Hobby House) if you run into a serious problem.
Make sample board the same as you did with pennies.

To add to the money idea which I agree with and have also been using for years... to hold in the money I use modeling clay, drop a stack of coins in the hole and plug it up with clay... the clay makes fine tuning the weight as easy as scraping off some clay with your finger or if you're really out it's easy to remove a coin... a little under weight? just put on another pinch of clay.